Carline Germaine, an Oakland Park, Florida surgical technician, was arrested Thursday after she was accused of burning and beating her 10-year-old son, news sources report. Germaine, 36, was booked into the Broward County Main Jail on charges of cruelty toward a child and torturing and punishing a child. A judge ordered that she be held in lieu of $50,000 bail bond. The press did not specify a criminal defense lawyer for Germaine.

According to reports, Germaine has been a surgical technician for the Mercy Hospital for the last several years. She is currently pregnant and live with her boyfriend and 10-year-old son. Sources say that Germaine has weekly counseling sessions with the victim and that this is her first arrest. It remains to be seen how these allegations will affect Germaine’s custody over the victim. During a court hearing, a Broward County Judge ordered that Germaine keep away from the child until the case is resolved.

Reports say the incident occurred on April 8 at Germaine’s home in Oakland Park. Germaine later told authorities that the child had stolen $50 from her. As punishment, Germaine allegedly held a metal kitchen knife over the stove until it was hot, grabbed the victim’s arm, and used the knife to burn him. In addition, reports say Germaine “beat [the victim] violently, leaving several scars on his body.” Sources did not say whether the boy received medical attention after the alleged attack.

Detectives learned of the abuse sometime later and found where the knife had left a mark on the victim. “The burn mark was consistent with the shape of a knife,” police reportedly wrote in an affidavit. Officer went to arrest Germaine on Thursday and allegedly found her in the process of moving; police reportedly claim this may have been an attempt to flee. However, Germaine told a judge that, “I just moved, that’s why I [was] packed. I moved.”

In a court appearance, Germaine reportedly denied the allegations. She admitted the victim had stolen $50 from her and that she wanted to punish him, but said she resisted the urge to hurt the boy, reports say.

Children are not the only beings susceptible to physical abuse. Thomas Elliot Huggins of Tampa was arrested Thursday after he was accused of killing and preparing to eat the family puppy, reports say. Huggins, 25, was booked into police custody on charges of inhumane and cruel killing of a dog. It is not yet known whether he has qualified for bail or hired legal representation.
According to reports, the incident occurred at around 8:00 Thursday morning at Huggins home on Aster Avenue North in Tampa. Reports say Huggins strangled a puppy, which was about 5 or 6 months old, until it was dead. Huggins then allegedly butchered the puppy, storing edible parts in the freezer. A family member called police at around 11 p.m.

Detectives searched the home and found the puppy’s severed head in the trash. The puppy’s ribs had reportedly been cooked in a pot, reports say. Detectives reportedly found the remainder of the animal in the home’s freezer. It is not clear whether anyone actually ate meat from the dog.